US2493504A

US2493504A - Pipe-line cleaner loading and cleanout device

Info

Publication number: US2493504A
Application number: US682428A
Authority: US
Inventors: William H Roberts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-07-09
Filing date: 1946-07-09
Publication date: 1950-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1967-01-03

Description

Jun. 3; 1950 w. H. ROBERTS 2,493,504

PIPE LINE CLEANER LOADING AND CLEANOUT DEVICE Filed July 9, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2o Z6 Z5 39 E2 3 a 24 Z7 22/2 24 35 z 34 .20 20 w 5/ 45 41a I r Q 1 53 60 6 I so William H. Roberfs IN V EN TOR.

BY 2/413 M Jan. 3, 1950 w. H. ROBERTS 2,493,504

PIPE LINE CLEANER LOADING AND CLEANOUT DEVICE Filed July 9, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 syrup- "up William H.12oberts INVEN TOR.

BY w

ATTUKA/[Y Patented Jan. 3, 1950 PIPE-LINE CLEANER LOADING AND CLEANOUT DEVICE William H. Roberts, Dallas, Tex. Application July 9, 1946, Serial No. 682,428

11 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pipe line cleaner loading and cleanout devices.

It is well known that pipe lines used for conveying gases and other fluids over considerable distances accumulate quantities of paraflin and other foreign matter, corrosion and the like, on their interior walls, These accumulations interv fere with eflicient flow through the pipe line. As a result, it is now common practice to insert a cleaning projectile or go-devil in the pipe line and to propel the projectile through the pipe line by the pressure of the fluids being pumped therethrough. The practice customarily followed in inserting the cleaning projectile requires cutting the pipe line in two at the desired point, inserting the projectile into the line, and reconnecting the severed sections to permit the fluid pressure reapplied within the pipe line to flow the cleaning projectile through such line to remove the accumulations of foreign matters from the Walls thereof. Such operations are ex-. pensive and dangerous, and may result in a considerable loss of gas or other fluid from the pipe line when the same is cut to permit insertion of the cleaning projectile.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a device permitting insertion of a pipe line cleaner in a pipe line without interfering with the normal use of and flow through such pipe line.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device arranged to permit the insertion of a cleaner projectile in a pipe line, and wherein the operation of inserting the cleaner projectile may be carried out without parting the pipe line or otherwise interfering with the normal operation and use of such line.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is so arranged that the cleaner projectile may be inserted and removed under pressure, or Without loss of pressure from the pipe line or stopping flow therethrough.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is constantly ready for use after having once been installed in the pipe line, said device being capable of operation by a single attendant, whereby a plurality of devices may be operated by a single attendant and the cost of operation is materially reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide devices of the character described which are adapted to be connected at a plurality of spaced 2 points in the pipe line to provide for selective cleaning of any desired section of the pipe line without interfering. with the normal use thereof and. her t r iieh,

A still further object of the invention is to. provide, in a device. oi the character described, means for stopping the cleaner projectile, flowing through the pipe line from upstream of Such device, said means also serving to prevent injury of or ama o. th ii ser e m c an sm- Still another object of the invention is to prod a dev e o the har er d cr b d e n the relati fily Small quantities of gases or other fluids flowing through the pipe line which must e, r eas d in oper iqn of he device a onfined nd nv e remot o nt w r y the danger of explosion or Iire or the like is materially reduced, and loss of valuable fluids from within the line, is substantially prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is im le and ru e n t uc i n w reby costs f ra i n. and m intenance a e minimized.

d it on l ob ect and a van ges. of the i vention will readily be apparent from the reading of the following description of a device con structed in accordance with the invention, and efer nce to. th accompan i dr w n s thereo wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly n sect on, of a dev e c truc ed n. accordance with the invention and showing the loading barrel in loading position,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device,

Figure 3 is a iew similar to Figure 1, showing the loading barrel in the lowered position in li nment wi h he p pe e, and

Figure 4, is a fragmentary isometric view illustrating the shock absorbing stop means in posii n for st p n c ean proj ctile.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates an elongate upright rectangular case or. housing having an inlet conduit [I located substantially axially in one end wall and communicating with the interior or chamber I; of the housing, and having an outlet; conduit l3, at the opposite end wall of the housing in axial alignment with the inletconduit. The inlet, and outlet conduits are provided with flanges i l at their outer end, whereby the flanged end connectors l5, of a pipe in may be olt 9! o h rwis s t se u her q to on ect, t e musin in, the ip l o that fl id fl wi hro h ai Pi e th may o t rou h hcueie Anim a fl n s rings I6 are screw-threaded or otherwise releas- 'sure seating the same each end, and vertically extending operating rods 19 are welded, threaded, or otherwise suitably secured to the enlarged portions of the tube and ex-, tend upwardly through the upper wall of the housing. Stuffing boxes 20 having packing 2! held securely therein by gland members .22, prevent fluid pressure leakage between the operating rods and the upper wall of the housing. 7

The upper portion of each operating rod is externally screw-threaded and gear wheels 23 having axial internal screw threads corresponding to the thread on the operating rod mesh with the threads on said rod to actuate the same. The gear wheels are rotatably mounted on brackets 24 secured to the upper surface of the housing. If desired, an elongate tubular cover 25 may be slipped over the extreme upper portion of each operating rod above the gear wheels and rest upon and be supported by said gear wheels.

A large drive gear 25 is rotatably mounted on a bracket 21 on the upper side of the housing and is arranged to mesh with the external gear teeth of the gear weels 23- to cause the gear wheels-to turn in unison. A large hand wheel 28 is connected to or formed integral with the drive gear 26, whereby an attendant. may rotate the hand wheel to rotate the drive gear and, in turn, rotate the gears 26.. Due to the fact that the large drive gear meshes with both the smaller gear wheels 23, said gear wheels will be turned in unison in the same relative direction. As the'small gear wheels 23 are rotated, it is obvious that the threads in the axial openings of such gear wheels will rotate with respect to the operating rods to move the operating rods longitudinally. Therefore, the hand wheel 28 may be manipulated by an attendant to turn the drive gear 25, to drive the gear wheels 23, and thereby raise or lower the operatingrods and the tube or barrel connected thereto. I

Wedge rings 30 are arranged to be interposed between the ends of the tube l1 and the seat rings Iii-to provide. a fluid tight seal therebetween. The inner surface of each wedge ringis flared outwardly and downwardly from its upper end, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3,.and is adapted to engage a similar angular or inclined face on the ends of the tube or barrel l1. While the ends of the tube. may simply be formed to correspond to the inner'faces of the wedge rings, it is'preferable that a flanged replaceable seatingface member3l be threaded onto each end of said tube in such a manner that the'seating face, is disposed at the same angle as the inner surface of the wedges. A spacer washer 32 is interposed between the ends of the tube and the inwardly directed flange or seating face of each face member to provide for longitudinal adjustment of the length of the tube to positively asin fluid tight relationship with the wedge rings 30. By changing the thickness of the washer 32, wear .of the wedge ring or of the face member may be compensated to positively assure alignment of the bore [8 of 4 the tube with the inlet and outlet conduits when the tube is in the position shown in Figure 3.

The wedge rings are raised or lowered by means of an elongate operating screw or rod 33 which is welded, threaded, or otherwise secured to the side of each ring at its upper or narrowest portion. The operating screw rod extends upwardly through the upper wall of the housing, and leakage of fluid pressure therebetween is prevented by a stufling box 34 having packing 35 securely compressed therein by a gland member 36. An internally screw threaded bushing 31 is rotatablysecuredin a bracket 38 mounted on the upper surface of the housing and the internal screw threads of the bushing are arranged to mesh with the external screw threads on the operating rod 33. A hand wheel 39 connected to or formed integral with the bushing 31 may be manipulated to rotate the bushing to cause longitudinal adjustment of the screw rods, whereby the wedge ring 30 may be raised or lowered within thehousing.

Arcuate stop members 4|, welded or otherwise suitably secured to the walls of the .housingjust below the seating rings l6,'limit downward movement of the wedge rings and, consequently, also limit downward movement of the tube or barrel l1, whereby the wedge rings and the tube are positioned in alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits.

A loading opening 45, having a replaceable seat ring member 46 screw threaded or otherwise suitably secured therein, is formed in the outlet end wall of the housing above the outlet conduit l3. This opening is normally closed by a trap door or hatch 41 which may be suitably hinged or otherwise swingably mounted on the housing and is normally securely clamped or locked in closed position. An exhaust vent pipe 48 having a valve 49 therein is threaded but may be welded into the trap door orhatch'fil and provides means for venting fluids from within the housing at that point. An annular seat ring 50 is replaceably mounted on the inlet end wall of the housing above the inlet conduit I l and in horizontal alignment with the loading opening 45.

The .Wedge rings 30 are adapted to seat on the seat rings 46 and 50 to seal between the ends of the tube l1 and the end walls of the housing as shown in Figure 1. When the tube or barrel and the wedge rings are in the position shown in Figure 1, gas or other fluid contained within the bore l8 of the tube may be exhausted or permitted to escape therefrom by means of a vent line 5! communicating with the interior of the housing substantially axially of the seat ring 59.

A vent valve 52 connected in the vent line normally prevents escape of gases from within the housing, butmay be opened to permit exhausting or venting the gases therefrom if desired. The gases or any fluids so vented or exhausted are conducted tc a remote safe point by means of an exhaust pipe 53 communicating with the vent line 5! and the vent valve 52.

After the pressure fluids within the tube l! have been exhausted or vented through the vent line 5!, the trap door M may be opened to permit'access .to the bore of the tube, whereby a cleaner projectile C of any desired suitable type may be inserted within the bore of the tube to the position shown in Figure 1. The trap door 41 is then securely closed. In order to prevent the admissionof air into the pipe line,some' of the pressure fluids which are flowing through such pipe line are conducted by the bore of A means of a by-pass pipe 54 having .a bY-pass valve 55 therein from the inlet conduit II to the bore of the tube to expel the air therefrom and to equalize the pressure within the bore of the tube with the pressure in the pipe line and the interior or chamber l2 of the housing. This is accomplished by closing the vent valve 52, opening the exhaust valve t9, and then opening the by-pass valve 55. The pressure fluids within the pipeline will flow through the by-pass pipe 54 to the bore of the tube and longitudinally therethrough to the exhaustorbleeder line 48. Thus, the pressure fluids will expel the air from within the bore of the tube outwardly through the exhaust or bleeder pipe 48. When the air has been ejected, the valve 49 is closed to trap the pressure fluid being conducted to the bore of the tube through the by-pass line 54. When the pressure within the bore of the tube becomes equal to the pressure of the fluid within the pipe line, the valve 55 is closed. The fluid pressures of all the elements within the housing are then in balance or fully equalized.

The tube Il may then be lowered into alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits to permit the: cleaner projectile to flow through the pipe line to clean the same.

:In lowering the tube to the position shown in Figure 3, the. wedge rings 36 are first lowered by rotating the threaded bushings 31 to move the screw rods 33 downwardly, whereby said wedge rings will be lowered into engagement with the stop members 4|. After the wedge rings have been so lowered, the hand wheel 28 is turned to turn the drive gear 26 to cause rotation of the gear wheels 23. Rotation of the gear wheels causes the operating rods H) to be moved downwardly to lower the tube into alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits. The wedge rings 30 may be raised slightly, if necessary, to assure a positive fluid tight seal between the ends of the tube ll and the seat rings 56, whereby pressure fluids flowing through the. pipe line L are directed solely through the tube and cannot enter the chamber 52 of the housing. The cleaner projectile C is then forced or flowed out of the tube through the outlet conduit and on downstream through the pipe line L by the pressure of the fluids flowing through said pipe line.

With the tube or barrel H in the lowered position, the accumulation of matter which has been cleaned from the bore of the pipe line and has flowed into the interior of the housing may be removed therefrom by opening a clean-out valve 6Q which is connected in a clean-out line El communicating with the bottom of the housing and with the exhaust line 53. When the fluid tight seal has been formed between the ends of the tube l1 and the inlet and outlet conduits, fluid pressure therein will be excluded from the housing chamber and the pressure fluid within the chamber may flow outwardly through the clean-out line to a remote point, carrying with it such fiuidportions of the foreign matter deposited within the housing as will readily flow therefrom.

In order to fully or completely clean the interior of the housing a clean-out opening 62 is formed in the outlet end wall below the outlet conduit l3. This clean-out opening is normally closed by a trap door or hat-ch 53 which is hingedly connected or otherwise swingably secured to the end wall of the housing and is arranged to be normally securely clamped or fastened in position closing such opening. A bleeder pipe, 64

through theclean-out line 6! to reduce thepresa.

sure within the housing to approximately atmospheric pressure, the clean-out trap door '63 may be opened to provide access to the interior of the housing for completely and adequately cleaning the'same. Likewise, any cleaner projectile which has been. stopped and deposited within the interior of the housing in the position shown in Figure 3 maybe removed therefrom through such. clean-out opening 62'.

When the housing has been cleaned and the cleaner projectile removed from the bottom thereof, the clean-out door is. securely closed and the. bleeder valve 65 is opened. The air which has entered the housing, during the cleaning process is expelled therefrom by pressure fluids conducted into the chamber through a by-pass line 61 having a by-pass valve 68 therein. The by-pass line communicates with the interior of the inlet conduit H and is connected to the clean-out pipe 5 i between the valve 60 and the housing, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3. Pressure fluids from within the inlet conduit will flow through the by-pass line 61; and the clean-out line 6| to the interior of the housing and will expel or eject any air which has accumulated therein by forcing the same outwardly through the bleeder pipe 64 connected in the cleanout hatch. After the air has been completely or sufilciently ejected from the housing, the bleeder valve 55 is closed and the pressure fluid from the inlet conduit is;

permitted to continue to flow into the housing until the pressure within the housing is equal to the pressure in the pipe line, whereupon the bypass valve 68 is closed.

The tube orbarrel ll may then be raised to the position shown in Figure 1 for reloading with a cleaner projectile in the manner previously described.

The operation of raising the tube is the reverse of the lowering operation. The large hand wheel 28 is first rotated to turn the drive gear 26 to cause the gear wheels 23 to turn. The turning of the gear wheels 23 causes the operating rods H to be raised to lift the barrel into alignment with the seat rings 46 and 50 in the upper portion of the housing. The threaded bushings 31 are then rotated by turning the hand wheels 39 to lift the screw rods 33-, whereby the wedge rings 30 are raised to the position shown in Figure 1 and are in tight sealing engagement with the end of the barrel and with the'seats 50 and 46 at each end of the housing. With the tube or barrel in this. raised position, the pressure fluid within its bore may be exhausted or vented, in the manner already described, to permit insertion of a cleaner projectile for repetition of the pipe line cleaning operation.

Under normal conditions, it is preferable that a cleaning device be connected in the pipe line at each of a number of relatively closely spaced points, whereby any desired section of the line may be cleaned selectively without the necessity of flowing the cleaning projectile through the entire length of the pipe line. Also, such installations permit trapping and removal of the dislodged'foreign matter at each of the devices;

wherebylarge accumulations of removed or dislodged foreign matter are prevented and the pipe line may be more readily kept cleaned.

-If. desired, the tube or barrel I! may be positioned in alignment with the'inlet and outlet conduits and the pipe line in the manner shown in Figure 3, whereby. the cleaner projectile from a pointupstreani may flow completely through the housing to a point further downstream. However, such operation is not generally desirable and some'means must be provided for stopping the cleaner projectile at the housing in such a man- I nerthat it may be removed therefrom for repair ora'djustment and reinserted for further use.

When it is desired to stop the cleaner projectile from upstreamat any particular housing, the. tube or barrel [1 is lifted to the position shown in Figure land the cleaner. projectile is permitted toflow into the interior or chamber I2 of the housing through the inlet conduit II. For both stopping the cleaner projectile and preventing damage to the seat I6 at the outlet conduit by the projectile flowing into the housing and striking said seat, a stop or bumper ring 19 is mounted in a bonnet II afiixed to the side of the housing and having an opening 12 providing for communication with the interior of such housing.

suitable material, are secured to the rear surface of the bumper ring and are arranged to' engage the seat [6 to protect the same against shock or scarring when the projectile strikes'the bumper ring. The lugs 14 also space the bumper ring from the seat ring 16 whereby the flow of fluids through the device is unrestricted. The spaces between" the lugs and between the bumper ring'and the seat ring, plus the opening 13 through the bumper ring, are at least equal to and preferably greaterthan the cross sectional area of the bore of the outlet conduit'l3 whereby unrestricted flow through the housing is permitted when the bumper'ring is in the position shown in Figure 4.

An elongated screw rod or shaft T5is connected to the edge of the bumper ring and extends outwardly through the endof the bonnet H and through a stufiing box'lfi having packing 11 securely held therein by a gland member 18. An internally screw-threaded bushing member 19 is threaded onto the outer endof the screw 'rod and is rotatably secured in a bracket 80 provided on the outer end of the bonnet. A hand wheel 8| connected to or formed integral with the bushing provides for ready manipulation of said bushing. Manifestly, when "the bushing is rotated in one direction the screw rod 15 will be moved longitu- 1 dinally to move the bumper ring from itsretracted position within the bonnet H (Figure 2) ber.

The bumper or stop ring 10 is preferably maintained in the position illustrated in Figure 4;

wherein it serves to protect the seat I6, during all periods in which the barrel or tube I1 is in the raised or upper position shown in'Figure 1, but

is withdrawn into the bonnet H when the tube or barrel is to be lowered into alignment withthe 7 pipe line as shown in Figure 3. V Y

If desired, and it is preferable, an inspection and service plate 80 may 'form one entire side wall of the housing II]. In such event, the plate 80 will be securely connected to the end and top and bottom Walls of the housing by cap screws 8| extending through the plate into said end and top and bottom walls. A packing gasket 82 interposed between the inspection plate 80 and the edges of the end and top and bottom walls of the housing prevents fluid pressure leakage therebetween. When the housing is provided with such an inspection plate, the entire internal working parts of the pipe line device are readily accessible for repair or replacement i or cleaning, as desired or necessary. In order to remove theinspection p1ate, the tube or barrel I! must be positioned in sealed alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits or all flow through the pipe line connected torthe housing must be closed off by valves (not shown) upstream and downstream of the housing.

From the foregoing, it will readily be seen that a pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device.

has been provided Whichpermits insertion of a cleaner projectile into the. pipe line without in-..

terfering with the normal use of or flow through such pipe line, and wherein the cleaner projectile may be inserted without the necessity of parting the pipeline or,closing off the floww therethrough or losing pressure therefrom. It will also be seen that the cleaner projectile may be inserted in the pipeline under pressure, or

without loss of pressure from pipe lines. other than such relatively small quantities of gases or other fluids as may be trapped Within the housing of the device and that such quantities of gases asare permitted to escape from the housing are conducted or conveyed to 'a remote safe point, whereby the danger of an explosion or fire or the like is materially reduced and the loss of valuable fluids is substantially eliminated. It is also mani-. fest that pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out,

. eration by single attendant, whereby a plurality of the devices may be served by such single attendant and the cost of operation thereby materially reduced. It will also be seen that once the pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device has been connected. in the pipe. line it. is

constantly ready for use for inserting a cleaner projectile without cutting the pipe line or otherwise interfering with the operation-and use of.

the line and without the danger of fire and explosion which is otherwise attendant upon such parting or cutting of the line.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in, the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those 1. A pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device including, a housing having a flow chamber from the spirit therein with an inlet and an outlet adapted to be connected with a pipe line, tubular loading means movable in the chamber of the housing into and out of communication with the inlet and outlet, said housing chamber serving as a conductor for fluids from the inlet to the outlet thereof when said tubular loading means is moved out of alignment with said inlet and outlet, means for moving the loading means said chamber, openable and closeable means in the housing spaced from the inlet and outlet and in a position providing access to the loading means when said loading means is out of alignment with the inlet and outlet of the housing topermit a cleaner element to be inserted therein while fluids are flowing through the housing chamber exteriorly of said loading means, said loading means being movable into communication with the inlet and outlet of the housing to permit the cleaner element to flow from the loading means into the pipe line to clean the same, and sealing means adjustable from exteriorly of the housing for sealing between the ends of the tubular loading means and the housing when said loading means is in alignment with the housing inlet and outlet and when said loading means is in alignment with said openable and clo-sable access means and spaced from the inlet and outlet.

2. A pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device including, a housing having a chamber therein and having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit communicating with said chamber, said housing being adapted to be connected with a fluid pipe line whereby fluid flowing through such pipe line may flow through the inlet conduit into the chamber of the housing and outwardly therefrom through the outlet conduit, a tubular loading member movable within the chamber of the housing and having a flow passage therethrough, means operable from exteriorly of the housing for moving the loading member within the housing chamber to move the flow passage of said loading member into and out of communication with the inlet and outlet conduits, the housing chamber serving as a conductor for fluids when said loading member is moved out of alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits, and openable and closeable means providing access to the flow passage of the loading element when the same is out of communication with the inlet and outlet conduits and the fluids are flowing through the housing exteriorly of said loading member to permit insertion of a cleaner member into said flow passage from exteriorly of the housing, whereby said cleaner member may pass from the flow passage'of the loading member through the outlet conduit to the pipe line when the loading member is moved to position the flow passage in communication with the inlet and outlet conduits of the housing, and sealing means operable from exteriorly of the housing for sealing between the ends of the tubular loading member and the housing when said loading member is in alignment with the housing inlet conduit and outlet conduit and When said loading member is in alignment with the openable and closable access means and spaced from said inlet and outlet conduits.

3. A pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out deviceincluding, a housing having a chamber therein and having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit communicating with said chamber, said housing being adapted to be connected with a fluid pipe line whereby fluid flowing through such pipe line may flow throughtheinlet conduitinto 10 the chamber of the-housing and outwardly therefrom through the outlet conduit, a loading member movable withinthe chamber of the housing and having a flow passage -therethrough of a diameter substantially equal tothe bore of the pipe, means operablefrom exteriorly of the housing for moving the loading member within the housing chamber to move the flow passage of said loading member into and out of communication with the inlet and outlet conduits, said loading member being movable completely out of alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits when the flow passage of the loading member is moved out of communication therewith, openable and closable means providing access to the flow passage of theloading member when the same is out of communication withthe inlet and outlet conduits and fluids are flowing through the housing chamber e'iiteriorly of the loading member to permit insertion of a cleaner member into'said'flow passage from exteriorly of the housing, whereby said cleaner member may pass from the flow passage of the loading member through the outlet conduit to the pipe line when the loading member is moved to position the flow passage in communication with the inlet and outlet conduits of the housing, sealing means adjustable from exteriorly of the housing forsealing between the ends of thetubular loading member and the housing when said loading member is in alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits and-When said loadingmembcr is in communication with said'openable and clos'ableaccess means and-spaced from the inlet and outlet conduits of the housing, and stop means operable from exteriorly of the housing andnormallyoutof alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits of-the housing andinsertable intoand retractable from alignment with said conduits in the housing chamber and adapted when in alignment with said conduits to prevent a cleanermember from passing through said housing from the inlet conduit thereof. 4. A pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device including, ahousing having a chamber thereinand-having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit communicating with said chamber "and adapted to be connected with a fluid pipe line, a tubular loading member movable in the chamber of the housing into and out of communication with the inlet and outlet conduits, means operable from exteriorly of the housing providing a fluid tight seal between the loading member and the inlet and outlet conduits when said loading member is in alignment with said conduits-for directing all fluidflowing through the pipe line through said loading member, said means alsobeingoperable from exteriorly of the housing for sealing the bore of the loading mem beragainst admission of the fluids flowing through the pipe line when the loading member is out of alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits, and-openable and closable means providing foraccess'to the bore of said loading member frotn exteriorly of-the housing when said loading member is sealed against admission of fluid to its bore. 1

5. A'pipe line device adapted-to be connected in a pipeline for the purposeof inserting a fluid operated cleaner member into said pipe line and removing such a cleaner member from said pipe line and including, a housing havinga chamber therein and having inlet and outlet conduits communicating with said chamber whereby fluids flowing through-the pipe line may flow into the housing-chamber and outwardly therefrom,- a

of communication with said inlet and outlet con- ,duits, means operable from exteriorly of the housing for sealing between one end of the loading barrel and the inlet conduit when the barrel is in alignment therewith, means also operable from exteriorly of the housing for sealing between the opposite end of the barrel and the outlet conduit when the loading barrel is in alignment therewith, both said means also being operable from exteriorly of the housing for closing on the flow passage of the barrel from admission of fluids thereto from the inlet and outlet conduits when the barrel is out of alignment with said, conduit, whereby fluids flow from the inlet conduit through the housing chamber exteriorly of said loading barrel to the outlet conduit, and

openable and closabl means providing access to the flow passage through the loading barrel when .the same is out of alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits and sealed against admission of fluids to its flow passage.

6. A pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device including, a housing having a flow chamber therein and having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit in axial alignment on opposite sides of the chamber communicating with said chamber and adapted to be connected with a fluid pipe line whereby fluids flowing through such pipe line may now through the inlet conduit into the chamber of the housing and outwardly therefrom through the outlet conduit, a loading tube having a flow passage therethrough and inclined end surfaces and movable within the housing chamber into and out of alignment with the inletand outlet conduits, means connected with such tube and operable exteriorly of the housing for moving the same in the housing chamber, seating rings at the inner ends of the inlet and outlet conduits, wedge means movable in the housing and adapted to be interposed between each inclined end of the tube and the adjacent seat ring to form a fluid tight seal therebetween when the tube is in axial alignment with the conduits, seat means within the housing chamber spaced from the inlet and outlet conduits and adapted to be engaged by the wedge means to seal between said seat means and the ends of the tube when said tube is in alignment with said seat means and out of alignment with the conduits, whereby the flow passage through the tube is sealed on to prevent fluids from within the housing chamber entering said flow passage, and'means providing access to the flow passage of the loading tube when the same is out of alignment with the conduits, whereby a cleaner projectile may be inserted within the passage of the tube, said projectile being permitted to flow into the pipe line when the tube is moved to alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits of the housing.

7. A pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device including, a housing having a chamber therein and having'aligned inlet and outlet conduits adapted to be connected in a pipe line, tubular loading means movable in the housing chamber from a position in alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits to a position spaced 7 from said conduits, whereby flowing fluids will travel from the inlet'conduit through the housing chamber exteriorly of the loading means to in the housing at a position spaced from the inlet and outlet conduits providing for access to the bore of the loading means when said means is outof alignment with said conduits to permit insertion of a cleaner projectile into the bore of the loading means while fluids are flowing through the housing exteriorly of said loading means, means for operating said loading means, and sealing means adjustable from exteriorly of the housing for sealing between the ends of the tubular loading means and the inlet and outlet conduits when said loading means is in alignment with said conduits and for sealing between the ends of said loading means and the housing when said loading means is in communication with the openable and closable access means in said housing and spaced from the inlet and outlet conduits, the housing chamber extending below the inlet and outlet conduits to provide a sump forming a trap for extraneous matter removed from the pipe line, whereby extraneous matter accumulating in said sump trap will not interfere with movement of the loading means in the housing chamber or with the flow of fluids through said chamber.

8. A pipeline cleaner loading and clean-out device including, a housing having a flow chamber therein and having inlet and outlet openings adapted to be connected in a pipe line, tubular loading means movable in the housing chamber into and out of alignment with the inlet and outlet openings of the housing, said housing chamber serving as a conductor for fluids from the inlet to the outlet thereof when said tubular loading means is out of alignment with the inlet and outlet openings of the housing to permit insertion of a cleaner projectile into the tubular loading means while fluids are flowing through the housing chamber exteriorly of the loading means, means for operating said loading means to move the same into alignment with the inlet and outlet openings to permit the projectile to flow from the loading means through the outlet of the housing into the pipe line and to retract said loading means from such position, and means operable from exteriorly of the housing providing a fluid tight seal between the ends of the tubular loading means and the inlet and outlet openings of the housing when said loading means is in alignment with said openings, said sealing means also being operable to provide a fluid tight seal between the ends of the tubular loading means and the housing when said loading means is in communication with the openable and closable hatch means in the housing and spaced from the inlet and outlet openings.

9. In a pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device of the character set forth in claim 7, a con ductor communicating with the sump trap of the housing for conducting accumulated extraneous matter from said sump trap to a remote point, valve means in said conductor for controlling flow therethrough, and a clean-out hatch in the wall of the housing below the conduits providing access to the lower portion of the housing chamber.

I 10. A pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device including, a housing having a chamber thereinand having aligned inlet and outlet conduits adapted to be connected in a pipe line, said housing having sections forming chamber portions disposed radially from said conduits, one of said chamber portions being disposed below said conduits, tubular loading means having an axial flow passage therethrough and movable in another radially disposed chamber section in the housing into and out of alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits, means operable from exteriorly of the housing for moving said loading means, sealing means operable from exteriorly of the housing for sealing between the ends of said loading means and the housing when said loading means is in alignment with the inlet and outlet conduits and when said loading means is disposed in the radially extending chamber section out of alignment with said conduits, said sealing means preventing passage of fluids from the interior to the exterior of said loading means and in the reverse direction, a loading hatch in the wall of the housing section in which the loading means is adapted to be moved and providing for access to the flow passage of the loading means when the same is in said section and out of alignment with the conduits, the housing chamber section below the conduits forming a sump trap for extraneous matter flowing into said chamber from the pipe line, a conductor communicating with said sump trap section for conducting fluids therefrom to a remote point, valve means for controlling flow through said conductor, and a clean-out hatch in the Wall of said lower section providing access to the interior thereof.

11. In a pipe line cleaner loading and clean-out device of the character set forth in claim, 10, a valved conductor communicating with the housing chamber section in which the loading means is movable and positioned so as to communicate with the flow passage of the loading means when 14 said loading means is positioned in said chamber section for conducting fluids from the flow passage of said loading means to a point exteriorly of the housing chamber, a fluid by-pass conductor extending between the inlet conduit of the housing and the housing chamber section in which the loading means is movable, said conductor communicating with the interior of the housing chamber and being positioned to communicate with the flow passage of the loading means when said loading means is positioned in said chamber section, whereby pressure fluids may be conducted through said by-pass conductor from the inlet conduit to the interior of the housing or to the flow passage of the loading means for equalizing pressures therebetween, and valve means connected in the by-pass conductor for controlling flow therethrough.

WILLIAM H. ROBERTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS